NSF Innovation Corps

The NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) is a set of activities and programs that prepare scientists and engineers to extend their focus beyond the laboratory and broadens the impact of select, NSF-funded, basic-research projects.

While knowledge gained from NSF-supported basic research frequently advances a particular field of science or engineering, some results also show immediate potential for broader applicability and impact in the commercial world. Such results may be translated through I-Corps into technologies with near-term benefits for the economy and society.

Combining experience and guidance from established entrepreneurs with a targeted curriculum, I-Corps is a public-private partnership program that teaches grantees to identify valuable product opportunities that can emerge from academic research, and offers entrepreneurship training to student participants.

I-Corps Teams--composed of academic researchers, student entrepreneurs and business mentors--participate in the I-Corps curriculum administered via online instruction and on-site activities through one of several I-Corps Nodes. Upcoming I-Corps Sites will catalyze additional groups to explore potential I-Corps Team projects and other entrepreneurial opportunities that build on basic research. Together, the I-Corps programs strengthen the innovation ecosystem at the local and national levels.